Secretariat won the Triple Crown on June 9, 1973

MONROE, La. (KNOE) - On June 9, 1973 the Belmont Stakes was the scene of one of the most explosive horse races in history. Secretariat became the first horse in 25 years to win that race, and the Triple Crown that year.

The Triple Crown is when the same 3-year-old horse wins the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes. Each race is progressively longer than the one run before it.

Secretariat set records in all three races. At the Kentucky Derby, he was the first to win in less than 2 minutes.

At the Preakness, Secretariat ran from last place to first place in the first turn. The official clock malfunctioned, but the Daily Racing Form clocked his time at 1:53 2/5... another record.

By the time he entered the Belmont Stakes, Secretariat had been on the cover of Time, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated. Once again, Secretariat won, but this time by 31 lengths at a record-breaking 2:24.

When ESPN named the top 50 athletes of the 20th Century in 1999, Secretariat was on the list. He was the only entry that was not human.